The main reason I use weather effects is to enhance realism.
In the horror game I recently released, I’ve approached weather in a few specific ways:
- The weather changes randomly, which helps convey the idea that “this game world continues day after day.”
- To make the weather-related sounds feel more authentic, I used ambient audio recorded in real environments.
- I use weather and its associated sounds to influence the player's sense of unease.
I think weather can be a powerful tool—like a well-used spice—when applied effectively.
But without a clear purpose or intention behind it, it can easily become distracting noise.
The key is to think about how you want to use weather as part of your overall atmosphere and storytelling.